Abstract

Delirium is a frequent and relevant clinical syndrome in the elderly hospitalized. Incidence and impact has been recognized for more than 30 years, and its importance in the care of hospitalized older adults is increasing because it occurs in different clinical units (patients admitted in units of emergency, medical or surgical rooms, to intensive care units, among others), and the ageing population, which has led to modern hospital care concentrating a greater number of older adults with various chronic conditions, with varying degrees of frailty and disability that require our better attention, in order to reduce the occurrence or optimize the management of this condition, that can be devastating for the evolution of the elderly after hospital discharge. This chapter aims to summarize the state of the art of this condition, pointing out some controversial elements and where it seems necessary that the research shows us innovative answers that reduce its impact